“Everything is relative.”

I hear that statement a lot. People who say it solely see things from their perspective. They assert that nothing is absolute and that they’re free to project their interpretation on everything.

People often say this when they have opposing views on controversial topics. These include politics, religion, and morality. But what does the statement imply?

If everything is relative, then nothing can be considered an objective fact. So what’s the point of education and scientific inquiry? Moreover, the statement is actually self-defeating.

Let’s dissect it.

Everything is, means it applies to all. Pair that with relative…

During my college days, I found Eastern Philosophy disorganized and hard to follow. I was not very fond of the subject because I found their ideas too simplistic. Unlike Western philosophy where thinkers investigate the nature of truth, Eastern philosophy feels like a self-help section rather than actual philosophizing.

My thoughts on Eastern philosophy changed when I encountered Japanese Philosophy in my readings. I recalled bumping into their aesthetic view, thinking that the idea was simple yet deeply moving. Since then, I saw the subject in a new light.

Japanese Aesthetics

Western Philosophy highlights logic and validity. While Eastern Philosophy looks at…

During our first class in college Ancient Philosophy, our professor began with a question. What is philosophy and why is it relevant if there is science anyway? He began calling students one by one to answer. We gave answers such as “Philosophy teaches us to think clearly. It aims to understand the reason behind things, and philosophy studies everything.”

Unfortunately, not one of us was able to satisfy his question. He rebutted all our answers, and countered by saying that everything we stated is present in science. If that’s the case, philosophy is useless then? …

When we have problems, we don’t always need advice. Oftentimes, a listening heart is more than enough.

One evening on the way home from work, I noticed my hair was due for a trim. It was unruly, and no matter how much I fixed it, it always went out of place. Before heading home, I decided to get a haircut first.

On the way to the barbershop, I thought about how I wanted my hair done. Perhaps a short cut? To cater to the summer heat. Or maybe a light trim? To keep it long enough to style however I…

I was told that everyone learns life’s most important lessons in kindergarten. Though the saying was definitely an exaggeration, there is truth to it. When we were kids, we’re taught to love one another, say sorry, and enjoy every moment. Arguably, the essential things.

As we grow up, however, things become messy as our aspirations and responsibilities clash. And because of it, it can be difficult to determine what we really want.

Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of When Breathe Becomes Air, shows us his journey, his desire, and his quest to understand life. There’s nothing to spoil here because the…

I’ve heard countless accusations against philosophy saying it’s useless because it’s merely speculative. Some believe that with the advent of modern science, philosophy is no longer necessary. They argue that since science can provide evidence, it is the only way to gain objective knowledge. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

If we disregard an older discipline for something newer, we’re missing the point. The point is not about who’s more novel and exciting. It’s about knowing what each discipline speaks of and understanding their relevance. Though we like to oppose them with each other, they are actually complementary.

…

We are in a time where there is no shortage of people who identify as experts or gurus. When we want to know something, we can either read about it or listen to qualified people. However, people whether experts or not will have opinions on things, so how do we determine if they’re correct without offending them?

We can borrow wisdom from ancient philosophy known as the Socratic Method. A method used by the ancient philosopher Socrates to see if someone making assertions, really knows what they’re saying.

In fact, psychology has adopted this into what they call Socratic Questioning…

“Beauty will save the world.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Idiot

When I was a college senior, our department went on a field trip to the National Museum. The purpose was to promote history and art appreciation. While I was never a fan of museums, the thought of having our classes canceled was enough to get me excited.

As we entered the building, I was mesmerized by the sheer number of paintings and sculptures. It was my first time going, and I didn’t know they housed pieces that were such marvels to behold.

As we went from one gallery to another…